Inspired Leadership. Exceptional Results.

As Owner and Chief Executive Officer of First Call Hospitality, Inc. Heidi Wilcox is responsible for the company’s performance and strategic vision. She consults with owners, asset managers and lenders to achieve the optimum return on investment for a managed hotel portfolio.

Prior to joining FCH, Heidi began her 30 plus -year career working in hotels starting as a Night Auditor/Guest Services Representative, working her way up to General Manager/Area Director eventually becoming the Executive Director of Training/Systems of Tharaldson Lodging in Fargo, ND.

While working for Tharaldson Lodging she was responsible for assisting in establishing systems and procedures and preparing staff to meet the needs of the aggressive growth of opening 29 hotels in a year In 2002, Heidi joined UP|Stream a subsidiary of Rosenbluth Travel as Director of HR overseeing six call centers in three states. The hotel industry however was her true calling and she joined FCH, while it was known as Dakota Hospitality Company in 2003 as Director of Operations. She has led the Operations and Sales/Marketing focus of the portfolio through 2015 when she was named Chief Executive Officer.

Having served on technology, training and human resources committees for Marriott and Promus as well as being a member of North Dakota State University’s Hotel & Restaurant Management Curriculum Advisory Council and adjunct professor, Heidi has distinguished herself as a sought-after figure in the hospitality industry. She was a member of the Owners Advisory Council for Hilton Garden Inn from 2010 – 2014 serving as the chair the final year. Heidi is currently serving as Chair for the Holiday Inn Brand Owners Committee as well as having served on the Holiday Inn Food & Beverage committee since 2015.

Heidi holds a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Restaurant Management with an emphasis in Restaurants with a minor in Business Administration from North Dakota State University and a MBA from the University of Mary. She was a Board of Visitors member/Co-Chair of the College of Human Development and Education at North Dakota State University, and is a lifetime member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

As Director of Operations, Todd oversees day-to-day operations of First Call Hospitality and its hotel assets. His responsibilities include overseeing human resources, insurance claims, revenue management, new acquisitions, re-branding and budgeting. He is also responsible for improving profitability by monitoring and implementing revenue and cost control practices and strategies.

Todd began his career in hospitality working for a major national restaurant chain for ten years, working his way to Regional Training Manager before making his way to hotel management. He then worked for TMI Hospitality (formerly Tharaldson Lodging) where he opened hotels in corporate and leisure markets before being promoted to Training Manager and moving to the corporate offices located in Fargo, ND. He continued to excel at TMI and held positions as Director of Training and Development and Hotel Performance before taking over all of the Human Resources functions for seven years. Most recently he served as Area Director of Operations, overseeing overall operations and profitability for a portfolio of Marriott hotels, including opening four hotels in two years.

Concurrent to his career with TMI, he served for five years as Adjunct Professor in the North Dakota State University’s Hotel Restaurant Management program.

Jackie serves as the Director of Sales/Marketing for the company. Jackie leads the sales and marketing division for the company by supporting, assisting, training and directing all sales and marketing efforts throughout the company. With more than 25 years of hotel experience in both operations and sales; Jackie brings a vast amount of experience in sales, marketing, training, and leadership in full-service, boutique, select-service and extended-stay portfolios.

She began her career behind the front desk of the Martha Washington Inn, a Historic Hotel of America, four-star property in Virginia and quickly transitioned into manager positions in sales, marketing and food and beverage. After gaining experience in all facets of management she quickly moved to corporate leadership positions in sales and marketing with InterMountain Management, Kinseth Hotel Companies, and Hotel Equities to name a few. Her experience includes hotel transitions, renovations and openings with over 30 different franchised brands, including Hilton, IHG, Marriott, and Hyatt.

A native of Virginia, Jackie now lives in Ft. Myers, FL. Jackie attended the University of Tennessee and Virginia Intermont College in Bristol Virginia. She graduated with honors with a B.S. in Business Administration. She is active in her community, volunteering for several local animal shelters and rescues. An avid traveler, Jackie has visited each of the 50 states and traveled to over 52 countries.

William (Bill) Gauerke joined FCH in 2018 to open the Bismarck ND Home2 Suites by Hilton. The hotel after opening in June 2019 ramped in less than six months. During COVID, the property revenue performance continued to grow. Bill moved to the FCH Revenue Manager position in March 2022. As revenue manager he is responsible for ensuring the FCH hotels are priced and yielding to obtain optimum revenues during all seasons while auditing revenue management systems on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis for the next year. He also reviews all revenue forecasts and budgets for forecasts.

Before began his career with CSM Corporation out of Minneapolis MN in 2006 as General Manager of a TownePlace Suites. He continued his career moving into positions with Courtyard, Candlewood, Staybridge Suites, Hampton and most recently Home2 Suites. He is well versed in the yield and financial systems necessary to manage the hotel effectively and maximum profitability while meeting traveler needs.

Bill has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications from Winona State University, Winona MN.

David Toman officially joined the FCH corporate team back in January 2025 as Area Manager/Chief Engineer/Task Force GM. David has worked in the hospitality business for over 20 years. He started his tenure as a night auditor and transitioned into a property accountant. Eventually, he was named General Manager. He worked for a hotel renovation company for over 3 years, as a property manager at a college for 11 years, and then maintenance superintendent.

Jill joined FCH in 2017 with 25 years of accounting experience in the banking and retail industries. She currently oversees all financial operations of First Call properties, including supervision of accounting, payroll, and accounts payable functions. She is also responsible for month end closings, monthly and annual financial statements, external audits and tax returns.

Previously, Jill was Chief Financial Officer for Vanity, Inc., a sales and management services company serving apparel retailer, Vanity Shop of Grand Forks, Inc. In her role at Vanity for over twenty years, she was responsible for all aspects of accounting, tax, audit, payroll, and human resources for an organization operating in over twenty-five states and having up to 200 locations. Jill has also worked as a loan accountant for a regional banking organization, Metropolitan Financial Corporation.

Jill holds a BS in Accounting and a minor in Information Systems from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She passed the CPA Exam and is a member of the MNCPA.

Lori has been with FCH since December 2014. She currently oversees the payroll department for all of First Call Hospitality’s properties and acts as administrative assistant to the CEO. She is available for payroll needs and assisting with payroll deductions. In her day-to-day operations, she is in charge of printing payroll checks, processing withholding deposits, transmitting ACH files and reimbursing agencies for garnished wages.

Prior to joining FCH, Lori worked seven years in the hotel industry at TMI Hospitality and Tharaldson Hospitality. During that time she held several positions. She was the accounting assistant for the Communications division where she processed accounts receivable, accounts payable, and sales tax returns for 48 different states. She also held purchasing positions for the development and maintenance departments, as well as working in the accounts payable department where she processed invoices and contractor pay applications.

Lori previously worked eight years at Mathison Company of Fargo as accounts receivable manager, and prior to that she was office manager for Jemco Electric and MaxAir of West Fargo for seven years.

Lori attended NDSCS where she studied accounting.

Active in her local church, Lori is the financial secretary and sings in the choir. In her spare time, she enjoys quilting and spending time with family.

Julie has been with First Call Hospitality since 1998, bringing key knowledge and experience to the company’s day to day operations.

As Accounts Payable Manager, Julie is in charge of receiving and entering invoices from all of FCH’s properties into the corporate Accounting system, setting up and maintaining various vendor accounts, maintaining W-9 files, as well as assisting the Director of Purchasing with various payments during PIPs and remodels. Julie is in charge of making sure all accounts for all properties are kept up-to date and current, while processing and paying invoices in a timely and accurate manner.

Julie also sets up and maintains employee email accounts and assists with computer issues such as troubleshooting, replacing hardware and maintaining FCH’s key backup systems.

Prior to joining First Call Hospitality, Julie worked for Tharaldson Enterprises as a guest service agent and as housekeeping supervisor. Julie has her Associates Degree as a Medical Laboratory Technician.

Greta oversees six FCH hotels in Missouri, Illinois and Oklahoma. Greta provides operational leadership support and training to the general managers and their hotel teams.

Greta has 32 years of experience beginning in Full-Service. Through the years she has opened and managed Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn, Holiday Inn Express, besides other extended stay and full-service hotels. Majority of her 16 years of experience was with Tharaldson Lodging / Pillar hotels.

Greta enjoys spending time with her family and is a St. Louis Cardinals Baseball fan.

LeeAnn joined FCH back in 2022 as Purchasing Manager. She oversees the purchasing for new construction projects, as well as assisting with PIP procurements and regular daily purchases.

Prior to her employment with First Call, LeeAnn worked for 29 years in purchasing for TMI Hospitality and Tharaldson Hospitality companies.

When LeeAnn isn’t at the office, she can be found at home enjoying time with her three dogs.